The aim of the new CEFTA is to unify the existing levels of liberalisation of trade established through bilateral agreements into a new unified agreement.
The purpose of this agreement is to increase the exchange of goods and services, remove barriers in foreign trade and improve conditions for investments alongside the gradual opening of public procurement markets and the enhancement of market competition.
Presenting the government-sponsored draft ratification act, Economy Ministry State Secretary Tatjana Kesic-Sapic said the new CEFTA would provide for a framework for stronger engagement of Croatian companies and businesses in southeastern European markets.
Clubs of several parties, including the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS), the People's Party (HNS) and the local PGS party, said they would vote for the ratification of the treaty.
Damir Kajin of the IDS said that the agreement should be adopted to benefit Croatia as the most developed and the most stable country in social terms in this part of Europe.
In this context, Kajin said that currently the largest Croatian investment went into Serbia.
Kresimir Cosic of the HDZ said the new CEFTA had nothing to do with any plans for reviving the former Yugoslavia, and that the proposed agreement would enable Croatia to use its comparative economic advantages.
Two parliamentary parties - the Peasant Party (HSS) and the Party of Rights (HSP) - criticised this CEFTA.
Bozidar Pankratic of the HSS said they would not vote for the ratification as this party feared that the new CEFTA would increase the import of food in Croatia.
Tonci Tadic of the HSP said that since Croatia had entered the World Trade Organisation and adopted the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, its trade balance had worsened.